In the Meantime

In the Meantime is a pivotal 2009 EP by American singer-songwriter Joe Pug, consisting of five tracks recorded during the fruitful sessions for his debut, Nation of Heat. Originally released as a free gift to his mailing list, the collection serves as a bridge between his early DIY ethos and his eventual rise as a staple of the Americana circuit. Sonically, the album is a masterclass in minimalist folk, featuring almost exclusively acoustic guitar, harmonica, and Pug's distinctive, earnest vocals. The songwriting is deeply literary, often compared to short stories for its character-driven narratives and lack of cliché. While technically a collection of outtakes, the EP is widely regarded by fans as a core part of his discography due to the high quality of tracks like 'Dodging the Wind' and 'A Thousand Men.' It captures Pug at his most vulnerable and unpolished, cementing his reputation as a modern torchbearer for the plainspoken folk tradition.